Dark or phoenix tourism has arrived globally. No sooner did the US relax its travel norms after the 9/11 attacks, visitors poured in at the Ground Zero with loaded film rolls to capture the smoking remains of the WTC.
Souvenirs sold like hot cakes and an estimated 2.2 million people in 2002 took back home memories of one of history's worst terror attacks.
Tour operators say the newest phenomenon in travel involves guided rounds of the sites of historical significance, mostly those which have witnessed death, destruction and tragic drama of some sort. And a preoccupation with such dark experiences have given this form of tourism its name.
Closer home the notorious Jallianwala Bagh site draws in steady trickle of visitors. On a tour of the site people saw one of the worst carnages by the British in the year 1919. A 'Martyrs' Gallery' is also maintained at the site for people to pay their homage to those persecuted.
However, unlike developed countries like America and those of Europe, the trend is yet to spread its wings in the Indian sub-continent, experts say, mostly due to the fact that "specialised travel" requires the mind-set and economy that Indians are still striving to achieve.
"India, as a developing nation has still bigger problems to deal with. People hardly have the requisite finances for its domestic and foreign tourism, let alone such specialised form of tourism, which is a rising trend in other countries," says Vipul Singhal, chairman of the Travel Federation of India.
However, even if internal trends of domestic tourism are plotted, famous burial shrines and mausoleums have always been tourist hubs, attracting visitors seeking spiritual solace from all across the country.
"The Taj Mahal is one such timeless tomb which has attracted millions of 'dark' tourists over years," Anil Bhandari, chairman, Tourism and Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to media estimates over three million tourists visited the Taj in 2003. "Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi attracts both domestic and foreign tourists," he says.
However, active promotion for this "morbid" form of tourist is not yet undertaken by foreign tour operators keeping in mind the "taste" of Indian tourists.
"We have not yet promoted such specialised request from any domestic or outbound tourists," Bhandari says. "We have to keep in mind the taste of our Indian customers," he says.
However, keeping in mind the 15 per cent annual growth in tourism sector and the 330 million outbound tourists, experts say people "exploring" such "dark" sites are bound to be on the rise.
